Door closing device



July 7, 1936. Q BLUM 2,046,892

DOOR CLOSING DEVICE Filed May 28, 1934 gmc/who@ en/es /ww.

Patented July 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR CLOSING DEVICE Charles G. Blum, Cincinnati, Ohio Application May 28, 1934, Serial No. 727,932

9 Claims.

This invention relates to closing device for maintaining a tight seal between a door and its frame or jamb. The device may be used upon refrigerator boxes or any other compartment re-r quiring a tight closure.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the character stated, which is simple, inexpensive, durable and easily assembled, and in which replacement of parts is easily effected, when necessary or desirable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character referred to, in which adjustments may be made with a minimum of effort and wherein the parts are so constructed and arranged as to maintain the adjustment for long periods of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for insuring easy operation of the device Without sacrificing strength and the closing effectiveness of the device. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character stated with a novel and effective form of past-center spring urged actuating means, whereby a relatively elortless functioning of the device is attained with the use of compression springs that may easily be adjusted, and which, if broken, may be readjusted so as not to seriously affect proper functioning of the device until'replacements can be made.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction whichiis unusually co-mpact and therefore adapted'for application to most forms of existing equipment.

'I'he foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view ofthe device of the invention, applied to a door/and its frame.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the Fig. 1 device.

With reference to the drawing, 3 indicates a door, and 4 a frame upon 'which the door is hinged along an'edge opposite to that at which the door-closing device is mounted, as will be understood. A handle for the door is indicated at 5. Adjacent to an edge of the door is fixed, by means of any suitable fastening devices such as screws 6 a bumper plate or element 'I having an inclined roll-guiding face `8. The plate may conveniently be made as a Stamping in which the extension forming the inclined face has an edge 9 vadapted to be strengthened by reason of its abutting relationship with the door at the edge 9 thereof. The inclined face functions to trip the door-closing device by contacting and moving theroller I0 and its frame I2, in the direc'- tion of the arrow I3, about the pivot I4 of the frame, upon each opening movement of the door. As the door is returned to the closed position, the under face I5 of member 8 strikes the other roller I6 and moves it to the Fig. 1 position so as to 5 trip the device back to the initial position for yieldingly maintaining the door in the closed position. The device is constructed so that av snap action of the frame to operative and inoperative positions is attained, as will be eX- 10 plained presently. v

The shiftable roller frame I2 preferably is of inverted channel shape, and includes pairs of perforated extensions or ears I'I and I8 each of which provides a mounting for the roller shafts 15 or axles I9 and 20. The said pairs of ears are so spaced as to permit the doo-r to move out of the way as the snap action occurs during movement of the door to the opened and closed positions.

The pivot pin I4 passes through the opposed side walls of the roller supporting frame and has its ends rotatably supported in suitable bosses 2I carried by the center standard 22 of the base or stationary frame element 23. The base is con- 25 stituted of the center vertical standard 22 and the spaced end standards'24 and 25 which provide a pivotal mounting means for the hollow spring barrels or cylinders 26 and 21.

As is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, each of the hollow spring barrels has supported therein a coiled compression spring 28 having an upper end abutting the substantially closed end 29 of the cylinder, the lower end of the spring being seated upon an adjustable spring seat or plunger 35 element 30. 'Ihe element 30 may include a suitable pilot or boss 3| for keeping the spring centered about the adjusting screw or plunger rod 32. The plunger element is provided with a central threaded bore 33 adapted for threaded 40 engagement with the lower or inner end 34 of the adjusting screw. It will be understood from the foregoing, that the compressive force of the spring may be varied by the application of a suitable tool for rotating the outer or head end 35 of the adjusting screw. Said head end of the screw is supported by an apertured cross pin 36 which is carried by the shiftable frame I2.

'Ihe cross pin 36 is freely supported within suitable bored bosses 31 at the head end of the 50 shiftable frame so as to be capable of a slight rocking movement as the frame shifts to the operative and inoperative positions. The spring force carried by the cross pin is evenly divided and applied by passing the screws through the pin at equal distances from the sides of the frame I2. It is to be noted that the axis of the adjusting screw is adapted, upon operation of the device, to assume positions at opposite sides of an imaginary line passing through the axes of the shafts or pivots 36 and I4, for eifecting the snap action above referred to. In this connection, it is to be observed also that the pivots 38 which support the spring barrels are not upon the center line of the plunger rod, but are offset therefrom as shown so as to provide for a powerful door closing action, which action is desirably reduced as the roller I0 moves over the top surface of the bumper plate to a position upon the inclined face 8 thereof. This construction, in addition, provides for a readily responsive movement of the device to the operative position of Fig. 1 as the door is moved to the closed position. It is of course possible to have the mounting pivots 38 located at the ends of the spring barrels and substantially in line with the axes of the plunger rods, but the construction shown affords the desirable advantages above set forth. The character 40 indicates an arcuate shield or guard which may be integral with the shiftable frame member l2 arranged to advance into the center standard 22 of the stationary frame, along the rear wall thereof, for the purpose of closing the top of the center standard in order to enhance the safety features of the device. It is noteworthy that it would not be possible for an attendant to injure his fingers or hands by accidentally coming into contact with any exposed part of the door-closing device. The oit-center relationship of the pivotal mounting 38 may be attained in any suitable manner, such as by providing laterally extending lugs or ears 4I at opposite sides of the spring barrels.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the structural details of the device, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A door closing device comprising in combination a base member to be secured to a door supporting frame, adjacent to an edge of a door hinged upon the frame, a roller supporting frame pivoted upon the base member and including a pair of rotatable rollers and means for mounting said rollers at opposite ends of the frame but within a common plane, means including a compression spring for imparting a snap action movement of the roller supporting frame toward and from operative and inoperative positions, and means movable with the roller supporting frame for readily adjusting the force of the spring.

2. A door closing device comprising in combination, a base plate having a hollow center standard and apertured end standards disposed at opposite sides of the center standard in spaced relation thereto, a shiftable roller supporting frame pivoted upon the center standard, a pair of hollow spring barrels each having laterally extending ears with perforations therein disposed to one side of the axis of the barrel, pivot pins extending through the apertured ears and the apertures of the end standards, a compression spring within each barrel and means on the barrels for supporting corresponding ends of the springs, a spring seat in each barrel for supporting the other corresponding ends of the springs, a pair of longitudinal plunger rods each having an inner end and an outer end, a transverse plunger rod support for the outer ends of the rods, said support being carried by the shiftable frame, the axes of said support, barrel pivots, and shiftable frame pivot being offset relatively so that a straight line drawn through two of said axes will be disposed to one side of the remaining axis, and a pair of spaced rotatable rollers supported upon the shiftable frame.

3. A door closing device comprising in combination, a base plate having a hollow center standard and apertured end standards disposed at opposite sides of the center standard in spaced relation thereto, a shiftable roller supporting frame pivoted upon the center standard, a pair of hollow spring barrels each having laterally extending ears with perforations therein disposed to one Side of the axis of the barrel, pivot pins extending through the apertured ears and the apertures of the end standards, a compression spring within each barrel and. means on the barrels for supporting corresponding ends of the springs, a spring seat in each barrel for supporting the other corresponding ends of the springs, a pair of longitudinal plunger rods each having an inner end and an outer end, a transverse plunger rod support for the outer ends of the rods, said support being carried by the shiftable frame, the axes of said support, barrel pivots, and shiftable frame pivot being offset relatively so that a straight line drawn through two of said axes will be disposed to one side of the remaining axis, a pair of spaced rotatable rollers supported upon the shiftable frame, and means for adjusting the spring seats along the plunger rods.

4. A door closing device comprising in combination, a base plate having a hollow center standard and end standards disposed at opposite sides of the center standard in spaced relation thereto, a shiftable roller supporting frame pivoted upon the center standard, a pair of hollow spring barrels each pivotally mounted transversely between the center standard and one of the end standards, a compression spring conned within each barrel and a threaded adjustable spring seat in each barrel for supporting an end of the spring, a pair of adjusting 'screws each having a head end and a threaded end, said threaded ends engaging the threads of the spring seats within the barrels, a cross pin carried by the roller supporting frame, said cross pin having apertures near the opposite ends thereof for supporting the head ends of the screws, the axes of the cross pin, the barrel pivots, and the shiftable frame pivot, being offset relatively so that a straight line will contain only two of said axes, and a pair of spaced rotatable rollers supported upon the shiftable frame.

5. A door closing device comprising in combination, a base plate having a hollow 'center standard and end standards disposed at opposite sides of the center standard in spaced relation thereto, a shiftable roller supporting frame pivoted upon the center standard, a pair of hollow spring barrels each pivotally mounted transversely between the center standard and one of the end standards, a compression spring confined within each barrel and a threaded adjustable spring seat in each barrel for supporting an end of the spring, a pair of adjusting screws each having a head end and a threaded end, said threaded ends engaging the threads of the spring seats within the barrels, a cross pin carried by the roller supporting frame, said cross pin having apertures near the opposite ends thereof for supporting the head ends of the screws, the axes of the cross pin, the barrel pivots, and the shiftable frame pivot, being offset relatively so that a straight line will contain only two of said axes, a pair of spaced rotatable rollers supported upon the shiftable frame, and means movable with the shiftable frame for 'closing the top of the hollow center standard.

6. A door closing device comprising in combination, a base plate having a hollow center standard and end standards disposed at opposite sides of the center standard in spaced relation thereto, a shiftable roller supporting frame pivoted upon the center standard, a. pair of hollow spring barrels each pivotally mounted transversely between the center standard and one of the end standards, a compression spring conned within each barrel and a threaded adjustable spring seat in each barrel for supporting an end of the spring, a pair of adjusting screws each having a head end and a threaded end, said threaded ends engaging the threads of the spring seats within the barrels, a cross pin carried by the roller supporting frame, said cross pin having apertures near the opposite ends thereof for supporting the head ends of the screws, the axes of the cross pin, the barrel pivots, and the shiftable frame pivot, being offset relatively so that a straight line will contain only two of said axes, a pair of spaced rotatable rollers supported upon the shiftable frame, and means providing for rocking movement of the cross pin relative to the shiftable frame.

'7. A door closing device comprising in combination, a base plate having a hollow center standard and apertured end standards disposed at opposite sides of the center standard in spaced relation thereto, a shiftable roller supporting frame pivoted upon the center standard, a pair of hollow spring barrels each having laterally extending ears with perforations therein disposed to one side of the axis of the barrel, pivot pins extending through the apertured ears and the apertures of the end standards, a compression spring within each barrel and means on the barrels for supporting corresponding ends of the springs, a spring seat in each barrel for supporting the other corresponding ends of the springs, a pair of longitudinal plunger rods each having an inner end and an outer end, a transverse plunger rod support for the outer ends of the rods, said support being carried by the shiftable frame, the axes of said support, barrel pivots, and shiftable frame pivot being offset relatively so that a straight line drawn through two of said axes will be disposed to one side of the remaining axis, a pair of spaced rotatable rollers supported upon the shiftable frame, means for adjusting the spring seats along the plunger rods, and means providing for relative rocking movement between the shiftable frame Aand the transverse plunger rod support.

8. A door closing device comprising in combination a base member to be secured to a door supporting frame, adjacent to an edge of a door hinged upon the frame, a movable roller supporting frame pivoted upon the base member and including a pair of rotatable rollers, means for mounting said rollers upon the movable frame in a plane with their peripheries spaced apart and their axes in spaced parallelism, a hollow barrel disposed alongside of the movable roller supporting frame and pivoted upon the base member adjacent to and in substantial parallelism with one side of the movable roller supporting frame, and means within the barrel including a spring for imparting a snap action movement of the roller supporting frame toward and from operative and inoperative positions.

9. A door lclosing device comprising in combination a base member to be secured to a door supporting frame, adjacent to an edge of a door hinged upon the frame, a movable roller supporting frame pivoted upon the base member and including a pair of rotatable rollers, means for mounting said rollers upon the movable frame in a plane with their peripheries spaced apart and their axes in spaced parallelism, a hollow barrel disposed alongside of the movable roller supporting :frame and pivoted upon the base member adjacent to and in substantial parallely ism with one side of the movable roller supporting frame, means within the barrel including a spring for imparting a snap action movement of the roller supporting frame toward and from operative and inoperative positions, and means movable with the roller supporting frame for adjusting the force of the spring.

CHARLES G. BLUM. 

